Traction-wheel.



A. H. MEYER.

TRACTION WHEEL. ArPLmA'rIon nun n! 19, 1909.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'[llllllllllllllllllllllll mag fie a Myer |i|;.lllllllllllllllllllllll7H: mum/s rsrsrzs cm, wnsnmarou, n. c,

Pateni zed Apr. 25, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. H. MEYER.

TRACTION WHEEL.

nruuumx run!) my 19, 1909.

M'6zedd66/ UNITED snares PA IENT OFFICE.

ADOLPI-I H. MEYER, OF PUKWANA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TRACTIONWHEEL.

Application filed May 19,

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH I'I. MEYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pukwana, in the county of Brule and State of South Dakota,have invented new and useful Improvements in Traction-Wheels, of whichthe following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in motor tractors of thetype adapted for use in connection with traction engines, plows oragricultural machines of various kinds, and it has for its objectprimarily to provide an improved traction wheel having traction deviceswhich are arranged at one or both sides of the wheel rim and are adaptedto enter the ground when soft and thereby afiord the necessary traction,although theweight required to obtain such traction may be relativelylight, the traction devices being so mounted in relation to the wheelthat an adjustment is provided whereby the traction devices may be heldin retracted position automatically as they pass the point of engagementbetween the ground and the wheel so that in traveling over hard groundor roadways, the machine may move smoothly and easily, the road is notdamaged and the traction devices are not injured, such a wheel beingcapable of use not only as a propelling means for motor driven machinesof various kinds, but it may also serve to operate harvesters andsimilar apparatus as the same are drawn over a field.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mountln for tractionwheels of this class whereby t e same may be readily applied to tractionengines, plows and agricultural apparatus of various kinds, the

effective hold upon the ground afforded by a the traction wheel enablingit to be used on relatively light apparatus and, moreover, a singlewheel may be used which is so mounted that it enables a short turnin ofthe machine or apparatus to be accomplis ied.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements,and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularlyin the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of atraction wheel constructed in accordance with my present invention, thesame being shown with its mounting whereby it may be at Specification ofLetters Patent.

1909. Serial No. 497,083.

| tached to the machine to be propelled; Fig. 2 represents a centralvertical section of the wheel and its mounting as shown in Fig. 1; Fig.3 represents a transverse section of the apparatus taken on the line 33of Fig. l and looking toward the left; Fig-4 is a plan view of theapparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the turn-tablewhich carries the traction wheel and the frames which are adapted forattachment to the machine and are supported by the tive view of one ofthe traction devices removed from the wheel.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in theseveral views.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown one embodiment of theinvention wherein the wheel is especially adapted for use upon tractionengines, plows and agricultural apparatus of various kinds, and in theinstance shown, a single wheel is employed and this wheel is providedwith an improved mounting whereby a relatively short turning of themachine or apparatus may be accomplished. It will be understood,however, that I have shown but one embodiment of the invention as anexample, and that certain modifications and changes may be made thereinwhereby the invention may be applied to the best advantage in eachparticular case.

In the present instance the wheel comprises generally two elements whichare ar ranged eccentrically'with respect to each other, and one of theseelements carries the rim or tire which rolls upon the ground while theother element carries the traction devices, the point of eccentricity ofthe two elements being variable so that the traction devices may eitherclear the ground or they may enter the ground during the turning of thewheel.

In the present embodiment of the invention, 1 represents the rim or tireof the wheel which is attached by suitable spokes 2 to a pair ofoppositely arranged hubs 3 which are freely revoluble on an axle orshaft 4, it being possible according to the present invention to makethe rim smooth on 1ts periphery. In employin the traction wheel as apropelling means which it is ap lied, power is imparted to that element0 the wheel which carries the rim and an suitable dpower transmittingmeans may e provide turn-table; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspec-' foraccomplishing or the machine to V this purpose. In the present instancethe power is imparted to the two hubs, they being shown in the presentinstance as having outwardly ofl set flanges 5 which are toothed to forma pair of sprocket or gear wheels, chains or gears cooperating withthese Wheels and being driven from any appropriate motor that may besuitably mounted upon the apparatus.

That element of the wheel which carries the traction devices consists inthe present instance of a hub 6 which is freely revolnble on aneccentric '7, the latter being fixed to or turnab le with the axle 4,the axle 4 being rotatably mounted in suitable bearings formed in thelower ends of a pair of standards 8 which are attached to the lower sideof a turn-tabile that will be hereinafter described, a rotation of theaxle 4 serving to vary the eccentricity of the two elements of the wheeland thereby set the traction devices so that they will either engage orclear the ground during the operation of the wheel. Any suitable meansmay be provided for adjusting the axle to control the operation of thetraction devices, a wormwheei 9 being fixed to this axle for example,

:a worm l0 cooperates with the wormwheel and is carried by an adjustingshaft 11 the lower end of which is ournaled in a bracket 12 preferablyfixed-to the respective standard 8 and this shaft may extend to the topof the turn-table and if desired, it may be provided with a hand-wheelto enable the traction devices to be conveniently adpisted.

he hub 6 which revolyes upon the eccentrio is provided in the presentinstance with a pair of opposed annular plates 13, and to these platesare attached the traction devices which in the present instance arearranged at both sides of the wheel rim. Any suitable construction maybe adopted for these traction devices, those shown the present instanceconsisting of a base plate ltwhich is adapted to lie :flatw-ise againstits respective supporting plate, and a wing or blade 15 projectsoutwardly at an angle to this plate and is shaped to clear the wheel rimand to I reject beyond its periphery at one fide o f the wheel. Thesetraction devices are rigidly secured to the respective supporting platesin fix-ed angular relation to one another and when they are used uponboth sides of the wheel rim, they are arranged in reverse relation, asshown. By rigidly attachin-g the set of circumferentially spacedtraction devices to these plates, such plates directly transfer thepower to the traction devices and there is no sliding engagement betweenthe traction devices and-the rim as takes place those instances wherethe traction devices are in the form of bars which are pivotafl ly orloosely attached to an inner member, the present construction being notonly a simple one, but it possesses the greatest possible strength, andfriction and wear are reduced to a minimum.

When the traction devices are in position to engage the ground andthereby increase the traction of the wheel, a driving connection mustobviously be employed between that element of the wheel carrying the rimand the element carrying the traction devices. While a drivingconnection of different forms may be used, I prefer to employ a drivingconnection similar to that shown in the present instance, it consistingof an inwardly extending flange 16 that is rigidly attached to the wheelrim and is provided with an appropriate number of apertures 17 which arepreferably circular and are spaced at suitable intervals, theseapertures being preferably concentric with the axle 4. The supportingplates 13 for the traction devices in the present instance are arrangedat opposite sides of this inwardly extending flange of the rim, andthese plates carry devices which cooperate with the walls of theopenings in the said flange and thereby aflord the desired drivingconnection, bolts 18 connecting the plates 13 and extending through therespective openings 17 in the present instance and have preferablyantifriction rollers 19 surrounding them, these rollers being adapted tohave a rolling contact with the walls of the openings in the flange.These rollers are preferably flanged or provided with shoulders so as tomaintain the inturned flange of the rim in proper spaced relationbetween the plates 18.

Owing to the eccentricity of that element of the wheel carrying thetraction devices, these traction devices will be retracted at one sideof the wheel while at the opposite side of the wheel they will projectbeyond the rim. Obviously, by turning the eccentric the point ofeccentricity may be changed so that when the wheel is traveling overhard ground or roadways, the traction devices will be retracted as theypass the point of contact between the ground and the wheel, a smoothrunning of :the machine being thereby accomplished. When, however, thewheel is operating in relatively soft ground, the position of theeccentric may be reversed whereby the traction devices as they pass thepoint of en agement between the ground and the rim 0 the wheel willproject downward'ly beyond the periphery of the rimand i will therebyafford the requisite traction. By setting the eccentric at either ofthese two points just mentioned or at a point intermediate between them,obviously, the traction devices may be either wholly retracted, whollyextended or they may be partially extended according to the nature ofthe ground over which the wheel is traveling and at all times, apositive and strong driving connection is maintained between the rim ofthe wheel to which power is applied and the traction devices owing tothe engagement of the rollers with the walls of the openings in theflange carried by the wheel rim, friction being minimized by the use ofthe anti-friction rollers.

In the present instance, I have provided a mounting for the tractionwheel whereby it may be so attached to a machine as to enable the sameto be readily guided or turned. This turn-table in the present instancecon sists of a pair of upper and lower sections 20 and 21, the lower onebeing attached to the wheel supporting standards and these two sectionsare rigidly united by studs 22 and also by shafts 23 which revolublysupport pinions 24. A frame surrounds the turn-table and serves as meansfor attaching it to the machine or apparatus. In the present instance, aframe is shown which is composed of two sections 25 and 26 the outersides of which are preferably parallel while their inner sides aresegmental or approximately semi-circular, bolts 27 connecting theadjacent ends of the frame sections adjustably. The segmental faces ofthe frame sections are preferably beveled or inclined reversely as at 28and an annular rack 29 is adapted to be clamped between the reverselybeveled faces of the frame sections by a tightening of the bolts 27.This annular rack has an outer surface to match the reversely inclinedfaces of the frame sections so that when clamped thereby vertical motionis prevented, and in the present instance, the teeth of the rack areformed in the center or midway of its height, those portions of the rackabove and below the rack teeth being beveled as at 30 to form an nularupper and lower tracks around which may travel reversely arranged upperand lower conical flanges 31 which are carried by the shafts 23 whichsupport the pinions. These pinions are spaced at appropriate intervalsaround the turn-table so as to rotatably support the frame thereon, andone of the pinions is provided with a shaft 32 which may be equippedwith a hand-wheel whereby the turn-table may be rotated with in theframe, the remaining pinions in this instance acting as idlers. Anysuitable form of motor and power transmission mechanism may be used, itbeing possible to use a relatively light motor owing to the efficiencyof the traction devices, and this motor may be mounted upon the upperside of the turntable or the power transmitting mechanism may be mountedupon the upper side of the turn-table and it may be connected by anyappropriate gearing to the motor.

Various means may be employed for attaching the wheel to the apparatusto which it is to be applied. In the present instance I have shown apair of beams 33 which may extend either forwardly or rearwardly fromthe apparatus, those shown being channelshaped in cross section withflanges outturned. These beams contain the frame sections between themand in the present instance these'frame sections are pivotally attachedat one end to the respective beams by means of the pivots 3% while theopposite ends of the frame sections are adjustably connected to thebeams by devices which serve to vary the position of the turn-table withrespect to these beams whereby the turn-table may be retained inhorizontal position although the beams may be inclined. In the presentinstance I have shown brackets 35 which are attached to the respectiveframe sections and embrace the beam so as to prevent side motion, a pairof upper and lower set-screws 36 and 37 being fitted in these bracketsand arranged to cooperate with the upper and lower sides of therespective channel beams whereby the turn-table may be relativelyadjusted about the pivots 34 as centers.

lVhile I have shown the traction wheel in connection with the turn-tablein the present instance, it is to be understood that certain features ofthe invention may be used independently of others. For instance, I haveillustrated a construction wherein the traction wheel serves to propelthe machine over the ground in which case power is transmitted to thewheel from an appropriate motor. It ,will be obvious, however, that thetraction wheel may be used advantageously as a driving means foroperating harvesters and other apparatus as the same is drawn over afield, and while the construction shown in the present instance is thepreferable one, it will be understood that it is shown as one embodimentof the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A traction device comprising an axle having eccentric and concentricportions, a hub revoluble upon the concentric portion of said axle andadapted to receive driving power, a rim rigidly and concentricallysupported with respect to said hub, a second hub revolubly mounted onthe eccentric portion of the axle and having a pair of opposed platesrigidly secured thereto and sets of radially extending tractors rigidlysecured in fixed angular relation to each plate, the tractors on saidplates being ofi'set laterally and adapted to project outwardly beyondthe rim and at opposite sides of its marginal edges, and a drivingconnection between said plates and the rim.

2. A traction device comprising an axle provided with an eccentricportion, a hub revoluble on said eccentric portion and having a pair ofopposed circular plates rigidly secured thereto, a pair of hub membersrevolubly mounted on the axle at opposite sides of said eccentricportion and having means to receive driving power, a rim rigidlyconnected to said hub members and having an inwardly extending flangewhich is arranged between the plates on the hub, said flange beingformed with a plurality of circular openings, sets of reversely arrangedtractors rigidly secured in fixed relation to said plates and offsetreversely to project beyond the rim at opposite sides thereof, anddevices connecting the plates and extending through the openings in theflange of the rim to cooperate with the walls of said openings andthereby form a driving con nection between the rim and tractorsirrespective of the eccentric relation of such parts.

3. A traction wheel comprising a rim provided with a flange extendinginwardly therefrom and provided with a plurality of annular openings, ahub embodying a pair of opposed members arranged at opposite sides ofsaid flange and carrying tractors, and devices connecting the opposedmembers of the hub carrying the tractors and cooperative with the wallsof the annular openings in the flange of the rim.

4. A traction device comprising an axle, a rim revoluble thereon as anaxis and provided with an inwardly extending flange having openings, aneccentric on the axle, a hub revoluble on said eccentric and embodying apair of opposed plates arranged at opposite sides of said flange, and aplurality of anti-friction devices arranged between said plates andcooperative with the walls of the openings in said flange to form adriving connection between the rim and hub.

5. A traction device comprising a rotatable axle, a rim revolublethereon, a hub having a set of circumferentially spaced tractors rigidlysecured thereto in fixed angular relation and rotatable about an axiseccentric to said axle, and a worm and worm wheel for rotating said axleto vary the point of eccentricity between the rim and hub and to retainthe rim and hub in adjusted relation.

6. A traction device comprising an axle, a pair of opposed hubsrevoluble thereon, a rim arranged between and connected to said hubs, aneccentric mounted on said axle between the hubs, and a hub revoluble onsaid eccentric and provided with pairs of rigidly attached reverselyarranged traction blades adapted to project beyond the periphery and atopposite sides of said rim.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ADOLPH H. MEYER. Witnesses:

FRANK A. Pownns, LoUIs ANDERs.

Copies. of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

